Southwest Airlines to SNA?

[ParkHopper1]

Are the planes generally the same size as the ones they fly into LAX? I want the BIGGEST plane possible....if I could actually fly on a plane the size of the Starship Enterprise, that would be fantastic--LMAO.

90% of all domestic flights these days are planes that are a 3x3 configuration (3 seats, aisle, 3 seats) either a 737 or A320...if not a smaller regional jet. Gone are days of the 777 and 747 domestically.

Southwest only flies one plane...the 737 series.

 

[daneenm]

Of course that could happen on any airline.

Yes, of course it could. The benefit we have always found with SWA until this trip is that we have never experienced it with them. They have been the most reliable airline, in terms of ontime departures, we have ever flown. So, it was surprising to have issues with flights in both directions

All should have been accommodated. There might just not have been room. But even on other airlines, if a flight is cancelled like that they put you on another flight. (I do recommend being on the phone to customer service, being online on the website, and being in line there at the desk, all at the same time, to increase your chances of being on a flight that's sooner rather than later LOL).

One would hope that all others were, but since we had to work all day and then fly out, there was only one additional flight that night, the one we were put on). Others may have had to wait until morning, which would have been a major bummer.

 

[daneenm]

We have only flown into LAX, but this thread has made me start thinking about flying into SNA. I need to check Southwest's website to see if they have many nonstop flights to SNA from Love Field (DAL). Are the planes generally the same size as the ones they fly into LAX? I want the BIGGEST plane possible....if I could actually fly on a plane the size of the Starship Enterprise, that would be fantastic--LMAO.

We flew into LAX only once and would never willingly do it again. SNA is so much more calm than LAX (of course, it is smaller) and closer to DL.

 

[bcla]

We have only flown into LAX, but this thread has made me start thinking about flying into SNA. I need to check Southwest's website to see if they have many nonstop flights to SNA from Love Field (DAL). Are the planes generally the same size as the ones they fly into LAX? I want the BIGGEST plane possible....if I could actually fly on a plane the size of the Starship Enterprise, that would be fantastic--LMAO.

As was stated by others, Southwest only flies 737s. Even when they bought out AirTran, they only kept their 737s, and sold off everything else. The largest version they currently use is the 737-800, but that's longer but not wider than the other 737s in their fleet.

Also - SNA is notorious for both having one of the shortest runways anywhere that's used for large commercial jets at about 5700 ft. That's coupled with their noise abatement requirements that basically force pilots to drag race, climb near maximum thrust at a steep angle, and then cut their engines severely during the climb to altitude. It's supposed to reduce the amount of noise that reaches the residential areas, but some call it a "white knuckle ride".

As for size of aircraft, there's never been any scheduled service out of SNA of anything larger than a 757. The runway is too short for a widebody plane like a 747/767/777 or Airbus A330. Coast to coast routes are served by jumbos, but not for a three hour flight. Most planes that size are used for transoceanic flights.

Southwest only seems to have two nonstop flights (#2846/#1233 weekdays, #276/#1233) a day DAL-SNA.

 

[TexasErin]

We flew into LAX only once and would never willingly do it again. SNA is so much more calm than LAX (of course, it is smaller) and closer to DL.

Any recommendations for transportation from SNA? We have been using Lansky from LAX.

As was stated by others, Southwest only flies 737s. Even when they bought out AirTran, they only kept their 737s, and sold off everything else. The largest version they currently use is the 737-800, but that's longer but not wider than the other 737s in their fleet.

Also - SNA is notorious for both having one of the shortest runways anywhere that's used for large commercial jets at about 5700 ft. That's coupled with their noise abatement requirements that basically force pilots to drag race, climb near maximum thrust at a steep angle, and then cut their engines severely during the climb to altitude. It's supposed to reduce the amount of noise that reaches the residential areas, but some call it a "white knuckle ride".

As for size of aircraft, there's never been any scheduled service out of SNA of anything larger than a 757. The runway is too short for a widebody plane like a 747/767/777 or Airbus A330. Coast to coast routes are served by jumbos, but not for a three hour flight. Most planes that size are used for transoceanic flights.

Southwest only seems to have two nonstop flights (#2846/#1233 weekdays, #276/#1233) a day DAL-SNA.

Yikes! I really hate take-off already!! Maybe I'll fly out of LAX, but fly INTO SNA. Is the landing also as dramatic? Landing doesn't bother me, but I'm already white-knuckling it on take-off!

 

[bcla]

Yikes! I really hate take-off already!! Maybe I'll fly out of LAX, but fly INTO SNA. Is the landing also as dramatic? Landing doesn't bother me, but I'm already white-knuckling it on take-off!

Landing is pretty normal. If you pay attention to a typical landing on a 10,000 ft runway, very little of it needs to be used when thrust reversers are used. It should be lighter after fuel has been consumed, and in any case landings need less than takeoffs for the same weight. However, the short runway with the need to get the plane up to speed and engines cut before hitting an elevation ceiling means a very different takeoff than at most airports.

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/john-364661-wayne-airport.html

This article has a graphic and description of how they typically take off. Usually they sit on the brakes and apply 90% engines. The takeoff is at a considerably steeper angle than at most airports. Then they back off the engines when they get to a certain altitude in order to reduce noise. There's no official procedure, but the airlines simply have to meet the noise abatement requirement. They're always monitored, and get fines and penalties for violating noise levels.

 

[daneenm]

Landing is pretty normal. If you pay attention to a typical landing on a 10,000 ft runway, very little of it needs to be used when thrust reversers are used. It should be lighter after fuel has been consumed, and in any case landings need less than takeoffs for the same weight. However, the short runway with the need to get the plane up to speed and engines cut before hitting an elevation ceiling means a very different takeoff than at most airports.

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/john-364661-wayne-airport.html

This article has a graphic and description of how they typically take off. Usually they sit on the brakes and apply 90% engines. The takeoff is at a considerably steeper angle than at most airports. Then they back off the engines when they get to a certain altitude in order to reduce noise. There's no official procedure, but the airlines simply have to meet the noise abatement requirement. They're always monitored, and get fines and penalties for violating noise levels.

What is interesting is that we did not notice the sharpness of the incline, and i was flying with a very nervous passenger. We did notice the drop off in acceleration at 1000 feet (which the pilot warned us of). That would have scared us much more if we hadn't been told about it than the takeoff itself. Really, no one in our group 'white knuckled' it during takeoff from SNA.